Largest type-42 warship in British navy arrives in Scotland’s capital for the last time and will open to the public before being decommissioned next month
HMS Edinburgh made an “emotional” final return to its namesake city yesterday.
To be able to payour respects and let the people of Edinburgh look over what is really their ship will be great
The 30-year-old type-42 Destroyer arrived at Leith docks at around 7am and will remain in Edinburgh for six days, during which time the crew will parade down the Royal Mile to mark the ship’s decommissioning.
HMS Edinburgh is the British navy’s largest type-42 warship and is sailing around the UK in a farewell tour that will end in Portsmouth next month.
It left London on Sunday and will reach Liverpool, where it was built, on Tuesday.
Despite the warship being based in the south of England, the commander called Edinburgh its “spiritual home”.
Some of the crew are from the Scottish capital and were delighted to be home.
Able Seaman Greg Douglas, 22, said: “It’s nice to be back in Edinburgh, it’s not often we’re this close. I’ve been on board for about a year and I’ve only been back for one month during that time while on leave.
“I’m a bit of a novelty on the ship ‘cos I’m from Edinburgh.
“I used to get pictures taken beside all the signs on board when I first joined the company.
“I’ve got family and friends coming down over the next few days and that’ll be nice to show them what I do and what happens on a ship.
“I’m part of the ceremonial party marching on Friday and that will be great to bring the Royal Mile to a standstill because I’ve been in hundreds of traffic jams on the street.”
Around 250 crew on the ship will be redeployed at the end of the tour.
Commander Nick Borbone has been in charge of HMS Edinburgh for 18 months.
“This marks the end of the ship and the life of the type-42 Destroyer so it’s a really significant trip and a huge highlight of that is the visit to what we consider to be our spiritual home of Edinburgh.
“Although the ship was built in Liverpool and is mainly based in Portsmouth, we’re named after Edinburgh city and have had really strong links with it over the 30 years or so of the ship’s life.
“It’s one of the cities we visit most, so to be able to pay our respects and let the people of Edinburgh look over what is really their ship will be great before we go back to Portsmouth and decommission. Myself and many of the crew are strongly attached to the ship so this will be a particularly emotional visit.”
HMS Edinburgh remains in active service during the farewell tour, with regular weapons tests. On the approach to Edinburgh the crew did a fire exercise to test their awareness and training.
The four engines that propel the warship and two diesel engines that produce electricity require daily maintenance, having sailed almost 800,000 miles in its lifetime.
The crew will parade in the city tomorrow and the ship will be open to visits from the public on Saturday.